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B. F. JONES & J. F. MAINS.

BAG LOCK.

No. 363,337. Patented May 17, 1887.

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BENJAMIN F. JONES AND JOHN F. MAINS, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, ASSIGNORSOF ONE-THIRD TO CHARLES C. CALDWELL, OF SAME JPLAOE.

BAG-LOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 363,337, dated May 17,1887.

Application filed March 29, 1887. Serial No. 232,823. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, BENJAMIN F. JONES and J OIIN F. MAINS, of the cityof Indianapolis, county of Marion, and State of Indiana,

3 have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bag-Locks, ofwhich the following is a specification.

The object of our said invention is to provide a cheap and convenientlock or tie for bags, it being specially designed for use withmail-bags, as will be hereinafter more particularly set forth.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which are made a part hereof,and on which I similar letters of reference indicate similar parts,Figure l is a perspective view of a portion of a mail-bag provided withone of our locking devices or ties, the bag being shown as half openedto thus more fully illustrate the use of our said invention; 'Fig. 2, atop or plan view of the locking device; Fig. 3, a 1ongitudinal sectionthrough the same on the dotted line 3 3, the parts being shown in theunlocked position and the rope indicated by 2 5 dotted lines; Fig. 4., ahorizontal section, looking upwardly from the dotted line at 4: in Fig.3; Fig. 5, a crosssection on the dotted line 5 5, Fig. 3; and Fig. 6, aview similar to Fig. 3, except the parts are shown in the position 0they occupy when the bag is locked.

In said drawings,the portions marked A represent the bag; B, the cord ortie-rope; O, a clip secured to the bag; D, the base of theloekingdevice, and E the housing containing the 3 5 locking mechanism.

The clip 0 is any suitable plate riveted or otherwise securely fastenedto the side of the mail-bag, just below the eyelet, through which thefree ends of the cord extend, as shown in 0 Fig. 1. On its upper end ithas formed a transverse bar, 0, which forms a half-hinge, and to whichis connected the base-piece D.

The base-piece D of the locki ng device is preferably formed as alabel-holder, and may be of 5 any suitable construction for thispurpose. At its forward end it is formed to encircle the transverse bar0 of the clip O, and thus hinge said two parts together, as shown. Ashoulder, (l, is formed in the top face of said base beneath each of thelocking cams, which will serve to assist the other mechanism in lockingor clamping the cord and securing the bag, as will be presently morefully described.

The housing E is formed in a single piece, preferably of thesemi-cylindrical form shown, and is mounted 011 top of the base D, beingsecured thereon by lugs formed on its lower edge, which project downthrough said base and are riveted on its under side. (See Fig. 5.)

In its forward portion are formed s1ots,through which the levers of thelocking-cams project, and orifices are provided in both its front andrear to afford ways for the cord. Cams E are mounted on a transversepivot, c, and are provided with projecting ends 6, which extend outthrough the slots in the forward part of thehousing, by means of whichsaid cams are operated. On their rear faces are provided teeth or squareshoulders c to engage with and secure the rope, and a spring, E, isarranged to bear against a projecting part on one side of said cams andforce them down against the rope. Just in front of the teeth 0 said camsare formed hollowed out or concave, and thus when they are disengagedfrom the rope a free 7 5 space is immediately secured for the passage ofthe rope, and all friction entirely removed with only a very slightmovement of the cams,

as will be readily understood. A washer, 0

is also mounted between the two cams, to insure their independent actionand prevent the ropes from getting out of place.

The operation of our said invention is as follows: The locking devicebeing secured in position on the bag, as shown in Fig. 1, and 8 the cordthreaded through the same, the bag may be tied by simply pulling thecord through the locking device until the top of the bag is tightlygathered, when the spring E will antomatically act to force the teeth ornotches of 0 the cam into the top of the rope and press it down, thesharp shoulders (I in the top face of the base-piece acting to engagewith the other side of the rope and assist in locking it, (see Fig. 6,)thus holding the bag securely tied un- 9 5 til said cams are released.WVhen the bag is closed, the base D is turned down against the clip 0,and there held by the construction of the hinge, said hinge being formedwith a positive and close action to hold the lock steady no and from anyloose motion. Then it is de sired to open thc'bag,the basepiece D isseized by the hand, as shown in Fig. 1, the cams disengaged from therope by simply bearing down on the projecting ends 6 of the cams withthe thumb, when the bag is opened by simply pulling back the catch onthe ropes B, the hinge-connection serving to hold one side of the bagwith the catch, (which thus also serves as a handle with which to pullopen the bag,) while the other corner is held by the other hand of theoperator, and the bag thus quickly and readily opened by one motion, aswill be readily understood.

We are familiar with the old-style lock which is provided withspring-cams, the projecting ends of. which extend up through the top ofthe housing, said housing being formed in two parts, and are also awarethat locks have been connected to bags by a loose staple connection; butwe do not regard these constructions as anticipating our constructionherein shown and claimed, wherein the lock is hinged to the bag by apositive-acting hinge, the projecting ends of the cams are brought to aposition in front of the housing, where they are convenient to beoperated by the thumb in its natural position when the lock is seized,and the housing of which is formed in one piece, besides other detailimprovements which render this invention much more convenient andeffective.

Having thus fully described our said invention,what we claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A bag-tie consisting of a base, D, provided with the shoulders d,housing E, mounted thereon, the cams E, pivoted in said housing andprovided with ends projecting out through slots in its forward part, andthe spring E,arranged to press said cam down against the rope,substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of the base D, provided with the shoulders 01, thehousing E, the cams E, mounted on a pivot'therein, and provided with aserrated or toothed face, and being formed concave just in front of saidteeth, the spring Eflarranged to force said cams into contact with therope, and a washer, e, mounted between said cams, all substantially asshown and described.

3. The combination, with the bag A, of the clip 0, secured thereto andprovided with the transverse bar 0, forming a half-hinge, the base D,hinged at its front end on said transverse bar 0, and the housing E,mounted on said base D and'inclosing the locking mechanism,substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands and seals, atIndianapolis, Indiana, this 24th day of March, A. D. 1887.

BENJAMIN F. JONES. L. s. JOHN F. MAINS. L. s.

In presence of E. W. BRADFORD, CHARLES L. THURBER.

